Reporting by Leah

On Friday, June 18, 2010, the Jewish National Fund’sJNFuture hosted itsthird annual celebration of Shabbat, Israel, and the environment with Shabbat in the Park.

Over 300 people attendedthis sold out Shabbat dinner of JNFuture, the Jewish National Fund’s young leadership division wherethe average age ofattendeesis 28 years old.Shabbat in the Park has become the marquee event for the Jewish National Fund (JNF) New York Citys young philanthropic Jewish community.JNFuture also hasbranches in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Miami, Philadelphia, Sydney and Toronto.

Shabbat in the Park is the only formal Shabbat dinner in Central Park. Set under magnificent tents within Central Park Zoo, the event provided a welcoming, inclusive and comfortable environment for anyone supportive of JNF and Israel. This year’s speaker was Gabriela Shalev, Israel‘s Ambassador to the United Nations. Past speakers included New York State Governor David A. Paterson (2009) and U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner (2008.)

All proceeds from this years Shabbat in the Park support the Rainwater Harvesting Program, to build a water conservation system and education program for a school in Jerusalem, andin memory of Gregory Davis. Gregory Davis was a founding member of JNFuture,a leader, and passed suddenly on February 10, 2010. Gregory’s parentsattendedthe dinner. Once completed, JNFuture will receive recognition at the school. For more information please visit http://support.jnf.org/goto/gregoryadavis

The JNFuture acts as the gateway for the next generation of JNF supporters who are passionate about the environment and interested in community develpment in Israel. With successful events likeShabbat in the Park, JNFuture is cultivating the next generation of Jewish lay leaders.

JNF began in 1901 collecting coins in blue boxes to purchase land and return the Jewish people to their homeland. In over 108 years, JNF has evolved into a global environmental leader and become the central address for partnering with the land and people of Israel.

JNF has planted 240 million trees, built over 1,000 parks and recreational areas, constructed security roads, educated students around the world about Israel, created new communities so that Jews from around the world would have a place to call home, discovered new means of growing plants under arid conditions, bringing green to the desert, and built over 205 reservoirs and water recycling centers, increasing Israel’s water supply by 12%. Today JNF is supporting Israel‘s newest generation of pioneers by bringing life to the Negev Desert, Israel’s last frontier.

A United Nations NGO, JNF sponsors international conferences on desertification, shares afforestation techniques and funds research on arid land management. JNF is a registered 501(c)(3) organization and continuously earns top ratings from charity overseers. For more information on JNF and JNFuture please visit www.jnf.org and http://www.jnf.org/jnfuture

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